Winter

Yeah for the Snow

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Today marks the second day of the winter when we’ve had snow. That’s good, because until this point it’s been largely a snowless winter, and last year was pretty snowless.

Snowshoe Path

But snow is both essential to the economy, the environment, and way of life in New York State. It provides a surface for skiers, snowmobilers, and snowshoers to get back into the woods.

Climbing out of the Ravine

It refreshes the natural environment, by insulating the ground, while killing off excessive deer, mice, and ticks.

Snowmobile Tracks

… So yeah, to another snowy day!

Elm & Longwood

The Six Step Plan for Summer

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Step 1: January

Play in the snow, celebrate the fact that the snow will only be around for three more months …

Abbie Covered with Snow

Step 2: February.

Try to stay warm during the shortest but most depressing month of the year.

Chopped

Step 3: March.

If were lucky, the snow will begin to melt away in the lower elevations.

Western Catskills

Step 4: April.

Come to the realization that even in late April, the Adirondacks can still have a lot of snow and ice.

White Birch

Step 5: May.

Happy May! Happy Black Fly Season! And finally some green when your not being eaten alive.

Made It Over That Beaver Dam

Step 6: June.

And finally June will roll around, the blackflies will be gone. We will be able to enjoy the summer time once again.

New York State and New England Media Markets

41 Degrees

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Today’s average high is supposed to be 41 degrees.
Much warmer then the cold weather of recent.

Snowy Day!

41 degrees may not be warm
but it’s warm enough to be melting the snow.

Watching the Snow Melt

Exposing the bare ground
and showing the first signs of spring.

Frame 59

It may be cold and snowy today,
but spring is most certainly just around the corner.

Days Are Getting Longer

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One of the hopeful observations of late is how much longer each day is getting. When I get out of work at 5 PM, it’s no longer dark, and often by the time I am home, there are still some hints of light.

Dip in Road

Indeed, tonight the sun will not set until 5:23 PM. In contrast, on January 7 I tweeted that the sun will set at 4:39 PM, almost an hour earlier.

Route 406

Daylight in coming weeks will grow an accelerating rate through March 21, when growth will slow as we head to the climax of daylight on June 21, the first day of summer.

Five Rivers Road

The growth of daylight means warmer days are ahead. It may not feel that way in the depth of winter’s depression, but signs of spring are all around.

Dark Early

The chickens are laying more, the birds seem to be out more. The average high is now a few degrees above freezing, and when this cold spell ends, snow will start to melt away and signs of spring will become clearer.

A Winter Picture Break

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I don’t know about you, but I am getting awful tired of the cold. Winter seems to drag on much too long. But to remind us that there is such thing as hope, and that it will be really nice out in a few months, a few warm weather pictures and memories will help.

A Hot Dog!

A Hot Dog

Paddling Across Horseshoe Lake!

Towards Mt Morris

Hot Summer Eve on Taconic Crest Trail!

Looking Out Towards Albany

Corn Field South of Hillsdale!

Copake Valley

Lows Ledge!

Lows Ledge

Camping at Lake Chazy!

Afternoon

The important is to remember that summer will come eventually, and it will be so amazing as always. Just count down those winter days, and focus on the warmth of summer.

Christmas Comes and Goes Once Again

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As a kid, I used to get more excited about Christmas. As I got older, I got less excited, mainly as I realized what an empty and kind repetive holiday it really was. Now it’s just another day, with some turkey and food at the family’s house. It’s great, but now it’s gone once again.

Sure there will be New Years, the celebration, the food, and watching the ball drop. But then the Christmas lights will go dark. The tree and all that Christmas trash will get hauled out to curb in city, or burned in the country. It will be all gone.

Christmas Tree I

The colorful lights that lit the outside of buildings will be dimmed and dismantled. The season’s joy will either go in the trash or into the attic to be hid away for another year. It will be all over but the cold of winter. We can keep the smiles on our faces for another week, but then we are facing the most brutal month of the year.

Albany doesn’t get a lot of snow. But it gets a lot of cold. January’s heating bills promise to be high. There will be ice and snow, miserable days standing out in the bus stop as we work our way into a new year. It’s going to be winter. There will be no more lights or holiday cheer. Christmas is over!